Bomb threat prompts evacuation at Rockingham County court

BRENTWOOD — A State Police bomb squad was called to the Rockingham County Superior Court Tuesday morning after a 911 caller reported a bomb was set to explode inside.

Scores of people were forced to evacuate the courthouse shortly after 8:54 a.m., when an unknown person called emergency dispatchers and made the threat.

The caller reported a bomb had been placed near an area of the courthouse used by the Rockingham County Sheriff’s office, according to Major Al Brackett, a spokesman for the department. It was said to be rigged to detonate between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., Brackett said.

An estimated 150 to 200 people were forced to evacuate, including jurors, bringing court proceedings to a halt.

During a sweep of the building, members of the sheriff’s department located a suspicious object under a container, prompting a call to the State Police bomb squad for assistance.

Three bomb-sniffing dogs were also brought to the scene.

“We determined that the object under containment was not an explosive,” Brackett said.

The dogs also searched the entire building and came up with negative results for explosive material. The building was cleared and people were allowed back in around 11:45 a.m., Brackett said.

After serving close to 10 years with the sheriff’s office, Brackett said he can’t recall the last time a bomb threat was called into the county’s superior court. The person responsible faces a potential felony criminal threatening charge.

“I can only tell you that at this point, it’s a very active investigation, and we’re pursuing some serious leads,” Brackett said Tuesday afternoon.

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